8Bitdo M30 Bluetooth Controller for Switch, Windows and Android, 6-Button Layout for SEGA’s Classic Games (Black)

So from what I've been reading, a vintage Japanese Sega Saturn controller is considered the ultimate gamepad for shoot-em-ups. Some people prefer the arcade stick, but I think the Saturn controller is more popular in the SHMUP community. It's also considered the best gamepad for retro fighting games, though an arcade stick is favored over the traditional gamepad for fighting games. However, there aren't any adapters that will let you use a real Saturn controller on the Nintendo Switch, so I decided to give this a try. Well, my SHMUP skills shot through the roof as soon as I tried out this pad. I never got seriously into the genre, but I'm now starting to since I have the proper equipment for it.I found modern analog sticks terrible for SHMUPS. There are many instances where you'll need to slowly move in one direction with the bullet patterns(or in some games like Radiant Silvergun or Ikaruga, to get through tight corridors), and this can only be accomplished on an analog stick by tapping the stick to one side over and over again, which works horribly because it's an analog stick, not a button. The Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo d-pads work for moving slowl, but they're still bad for SHMUPS since it's hard to move diagonally or in a circle. However, the 8-direction Sega-style d-pad is perfect. You can move slowly to one side by clicking the d-pad repeatedly and easily move in 8 directions.I wish I could compare this to a vintage Saturn controller or the officially licensed Retro-bit Saturn controller for Switch, but I haven't used either. I can't say if those are better or worse than those. All I know is that this blows away trying to play SHMUPS on a a DS4, Xbox One controller, or Switch Joy-cons(some people do actually like the DS2 for SHMUPS though, try if if you want :Þ). Games I've tested on it include Radiant Silvergun in Retroarch, DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou in Retroarch, Ikaruga on PC, Touhou 16 on PC, Danmaku Unlimited 3 on Switch, Gunbird 2 on Switch, and Aero Fighters 2 on Switch. All controlled beautifully.A few things to note. For Retroarch I had to put it into Android mode(start+B). Windows mode(start+X) had a glitch where the R-button was just a duplicate of the Z-button and L wasn't recognized at all. For Touhou I had to put it into Windows mode and to use Joy2Key, since Joy2Key would not recognize Android mode. Both Android and Windows mode work with Steam, however, in Windows mode LB is mapped to L on the gamepad, LT to R, RB to Z, and RT to C. With Android mode it's mapped like it is on the Switch where L is LB and R is RB, which makes way more sense. But the bottom line is, if Windows mode is not working right on PC then use Android mode, Windows will recognize either(note that I do not know if Android mode works in wired mode, I tested with bluetooth mode). Apparently one is Xinput and one is Dinput, hence the different compatibility. And of course, Joy2Key is always an option for games that refuse to recognize the gamepad like Touhou.I had no issues with it on Switch since the Switch let's you remap controls now. However, the manual doesn't tell you how to change the D-pad from emulating the left analog stick to emulating the D-pad, even though it does have that feature. It's so typical of retro stuff to put features in and not tell you they exist. The pad also worked great in the Sega Genesis classic collection on Switch with Sonic 2 and Streets of Rage 3, and it worked well with Sonic Mania. I'll have to try it with Streets of Rage 4 soon.So bottom line, I can't compare it to the officially licensed Retro-bit controllers for the Nintendo Switch, I just know this a really good gamepad on it's own. And of course a vintage Saturn controller and an adapter is probably superior if you're serious about PC SHMUPS, but they won't work on Switch and will cost you more than this gamepad and lack bluetooth and the extra buttons. Also, while Retroarch, Steam, Joy2Key, and Switch all worked perfectly with this gamepad in the end, it did take some trial and error(that is the norm for anything other than Xbox controller/Windows and pro controller/Switch). I'll just say if you want a gamepad for PC and Switch that's great for SHMUPS and fighting games and classic Sega games, this works great.

I primarily bought this controller for the Sega Ages games coming for and on the Nintendo Switch. It pairs and works on different things like android, PC, Switch, and Steam similar to most of 8bitdo's products. The build of the controller is as solid as I expected it to be, light but doesn't feel cheap. The buttons feel great, similar to the 6 button Genesis controller and the same can be said about the D-Pad (which is a major plus). This D-pad is fantastic imo, a HUGE improvement from the other controllers I have from them (the SN30Pro), barely any misread inputs from left or right going up or down instead.One main caveat for using this on the Switch is that it follows the Nintendo button layout (so A on this controller is B and X on this controller is Y, and the Z and C buttons are mapped to L and R while the L and R buttons on the controller are mapped to ZL and ZR). Plus the D-Pad is apparently detected as an analouge stick instead of a D-Pad/the 4 directional buttons so that might cause some problems with some games. This isn't a huge problem for the Sega Ages games since you can remap the buttons if need be but if you plan to use this controller for a game that doesn't let you remap your buttons then it could be a problem. (And the Z and C buttons are mapped to L and R while the L and R buttons on the controller are mapped to ZL and ZR)Using this controller on Steam works pretty great using X-input (and Big Picture Mode) too.Overall, this is probably 8bitdo's best controller so far. I know that Retro-Bit are also releasing original cased wireless Sega Genesis and Saturn controllers in the future (who knows when) that will also work with the Switch, but for $30 this is hard to beat and is a great for all the Sega Ages games that are planned for the Nintendo Switch and Sonic Mania.

As someone who grew up playing Sega Genesis and have used the SN30 Pro controller on a Nintendo Switch, I was very interested in getting this controller. To keep things short and sweet, if you plan on using this on the Genesis, this controller is a great alternative to the original Genesis controllers. I had no problems with latency, disconnections, or anything with it connected to my Model 2 Genesis, and the fact that 8bitdo went with the 6 button layout is great for playing fighting games with. The only real gripe I have is that Switch controls are switched (really keeping up with the name there), meaning that B is A, A is B, X is Y, and Y is X. That's like me going from playing with a Switch Pro controller to playing with a Xbox controller. Also, don't expect this to be a miracle on Android, as the apps on that OS have spotty controller support. However, for the console it was designed for, that being the Genesis, it works out beautifully. Just remember to get the reciever with this version, or just the cheaper 2.4 GHz version with an included reciever.As far as design, this is a well designed controller. It has a few more curves than the original controllers, making it more comfortable in my opinion, and like it's Super Nintendo with sticks counterpart, it's built like a tank. The d-pad also works well, and the buttons don't feel too shabby either.So, if you're looking for a new controller for the Sega Genesis, or maybe you ordered an Analogue Mega SG system, you can't go wrong with this controller. If you get this Bluetooth version, though, remember to get the Retro Reciever for the Genesis, or if you're just getting this for Genesis and that's it, just get the 2.4 GHz version.